Union urges action to stop workplace deaths

UnionsWA says more needs to be done to improve workplace safety in Western Australia.

New data from WorkSafe shows there were 18 work-related deaths in the past year, a slight increase of 1.2 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.

The figures also show that while the overall injury rate decreased, there has been an ongoing rise in the number of workers who suffered a serious injury that rendered them unable to work for more than 60 days.

It is now at its highest rate in five years.

UnionsWA secretary Meredith Hammatt says the figures are concerning.

"There are still on average one death every 21 days in Western Australia through a work fatality," she said.

"Clearly this number is still way too high and we think much should be done by employers, by governments, by everyone in workplaces to really try and get these figures down and improving.

"Clearly that's concerning, has a big impact on industry through workers' compensation claims but more importantly people are often left with a lifelong disability or perhaps even a loss of livelihood as a result of these kinds of industry."